Data processing apparatus for transmitting resources to an image processing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A resource management method according to the present invention for managing a resource retained by an image forming apparatus that is capable of processing print data, which is based upon print languages of a plurality of types, using a specified resource, comprises a setting step of setting attributes, with regard to the resource, corresponding to each of the plurality of types of print languages processable by the image forming apparatus, and a storage step of storing the attributes, which have been set at said setting step, in the image forming apparatus in association with actual data of the resource retained by the image forming apparatus.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a data processing apparatus and resourcemanagement method for managing resources supplied for use in an imageforming apparatus such as a printer or digital copier.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In an image forming apparatus that accepts data in a plurality of printlanguages, any of methods (1) to (3) below is adopted in a case whereresource data such as fonts, color profiles and dither patterns used informing an image is retained within the apparatus.

(1) A special-purpose resource retention area for every print languageis provided within the image forming apparatus, and only resource datautilized by a specific single print language is retained in eachretention area together with resource attributes (information indicatinga characterizing feature of the resource) regarding the specific singleprint language (for example, see the specification of Japanese PatentApplication Laid-Open No. 08-030408). In this case, a program such as aprinter driver that executes only processing relating to the specificprint language refers only to the resource in the resource retentionarea for the print language that is to undergo processing. Further, adata processing program for managing all resources within the apparatusadopts each resource retention area exclusively for each print languageprovided within the apparatus as an object of processing, downloads dataseparately from host computers, etc., of the resources and sets theattributes.

(2) A special-purpose resource retention area for every print languageis provided within the image forming apparatus, only resource datautilized by a specific single print language is retained in eachretention area together with resource attributes (information indicatinga characterizing feature of the resource) regarding the specific singleprint language, in a manner similar to that of (1) above, and amanagement module within the apparatus performs batch management. Inthis case, in response to a list request from a program such as aprinter driver that executes only processing relating to the specificprint language, and also in response to a command for download andsetting of attributes from a data processing program that manages allresources within the apparatus, the management module within theapparatus discriminates the source of the request, the source of thecommand and the object of processing and executes processing thatconforms to the result of discrimination.

(3) A single resource retention area used in common from each printlanguage is provided within the image forming apparatus and allresources are retained in this area. In this case, processing forreference, setting of attributes and download from each program such asa printer driver that executes only processing relating to a specificprint language and from a data processing program that manages allresources within the apparatus, is executed with respect to resourceswithin the same resource retention area.

When various programs such as a printer driver in a data processingapparatus capable of communicating with the above-mentioned imageforming apparatus use resources retained within a device, there arecases where resource candidates are displayed and are allowed to beselected by a user, etc. With such programs, resources are used throughthe methods set forth below.

A first method of use is such that since resources usable by each printlanguage differ, a program dedicated to a certain print language (e.g.,an application that supports only a specific language) will display onlythe resources that can be utilized by this program per se.

A second method of use is such that in a case where a plurality ofresources within an apparatus are presented to a user collectively as asingle resource in a program dedicated to a certain print language anduse of this resource is commanded, the dedicated program decidesappropriate resources used internally from the plurality of resourcesmade to appear as a single resource. Furthermore, there are also caseswhere the contents of resources collected into a single resource aremade to appear individually from a separate print-language dedicatedprogram.

In addition, when the name of a resource is displayed, there are alsocases where even though there is only a single resource, the resource isdisplayed under a separate name for each print language in accordancewith limitations imposed by the specifications of the print language.

In accordance with these methods of using resources in a data processingapparatus, the following problems arise with the conventional method ofresource retention:

With resource processing (1) according to the prior art, it is necessaryto retain resources separately in each area dedicated to a printlanguage even in relation to resources having common attributes and dataregarding a plurality of print languages. As a consequence, resourceswithin the apparatus are consumed superfluously. Further, it is requiredthat a data processing program that manages all resources within theapparatus execute processing such as download separately even inrelation to resources having common attributes and data regarding aplurality of print languages.

With resource processing (2) according to the prior art, it is necessaryto retain resources separately in each area dedicated to a printlanguage even in relation to resources having common attributes and dataregarding a plurality of print languages, as in processing (1) above,and therefore resources within the apparatus are consumed superfluously.

With resource processing (3) according to the prior art, the premise isthat resources within the apparatus have common attributes set withrespect to all print languages and all are capable of being utilized inthe same manner. Consequently, with regard to a resource for which theattributes concerning a plurality of print languages differ even thoughthe data is common, the same resource is retained under a differentname. This pertains to a resource that cannot be used with a certainspecific print language, or to a resource which, even though it is adefault resource with respect to a certain print language (a resourcespecified beforehand for use in a case where is no particulardesignation made in individual print jobs concerning the resourceutilized), is not a default resource with respect to another language.

Further, besides the method of retaining one resource under separatenames, there are also cases where processing is executed in order todisplay one resource by a name on a per-print-language basis. This isprocessing for displaying the name of a resource contained in anapparatus upon converting the resource name based upon information heldbeforehand by each program dedicated to a print language. In this case,the conversion processing cannot be executed in relation to a resourcefor which information does not previously exist on the side of theprint-language dedicated program, as in the manner of a resource createdand downloaded to the apparatus by a user, and therefore a method ofdisplaying such a resource under a separate name for each and everyprint language does not exist.

Further, in a case where a resource that cannot be used with a certainspecific print language exists, processing is executed in which thededicated program for this print language filters information relatingto a resource that the computer itself cannot use upon recognizing thisinformation beforehand. However, this program also cannot deal with aresource that does not possess the information, e.g., a resource createdand downloaded to the apparatus by a user. Consequently, a resource isdisplayed regardless of the fact that it is not clear whether theresource can or cannot be used with the print language. Alternatively,processing that arranges it so that a resource devoid of informationwill not be handled is executed.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a dataprocessing apparatus, resource management method and image formingapparatus through which resources can be utilized appropriately by theimage forming apparatus without retaining resources redundantly in animage forming apparatus that supports a plurality of print languagesand, moreover, by furnishing one retained resource with a name and/orattribute corresponding to each of the plurality of print languages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, the foregoing object is attained byproviding a resource management method for managing a resource retainedby an image forming apparatus that is capable of processing print data,which is based upon print languages of a plurality of types, using aspecified resource, comprising: a setting step of setting attributes,with regard to the resource, corresponding to each of the plurality oftypes of print languages processable by the image forming apparatus; anda storage step of storing the attributes, which have been set at thesetting step, in the image forming apparatus in association with actualdata of the resources retained by the image forming apparatus.

Preferably, the method further comprises a download step of downloadingactual data of a resource to the image forming apparatus, wherein thestorage step stores attributes regarding the resource in associationwith the actual data of the resource downloaded at the download step.

Preferably, an attribute indicating whether a resource is utilizablewith each print language is included as an attribute corresponding toeach of the plurality of types of print languages, and the methodfurther comprises a list display step of reading the attributes thathave been stored in association with the resource retained by the imageforming apparatus and displaying attributes regarding a resourceutilizable by a specific print language.

Preferably, an attribute indicating whether a resource is utilized as adefault with each print language is included as an attributecorresponding to each of the plurality of types of print languages, andthe list display step displays attributes, which concern a resourcespecified as a default in regard to a specific print language, in such amanner that this fact can be recognized.

Preferably, a name of a resource corresponding to each print language isincluded as an attribute corresponding to each of the plurality of typesof print languages, and the list display step displays a resource name,which has been specified with regard to each print language, in such amanner that this fact can be recognized.

Preferably, the resources are a font resource used in printing, and/or aform resource for forming an image by being superimposed on print dataat the time of printing, and/or a color-profile resource that expressescolor space of an input/output device, and/or a look-up-table resource,which is a conversion table for color correction in color processing,and/or a dither-pattern resource, which is pattern data that decidesexpression of color in color processing.

Further, according to the present invention, the foregoing object isattained by providing a data processing apparatus for use with an imageprocessing apparatus (e.g., a printer 308 or 309 or an multifunctioncopier 306 or 307 shown in FIG. 3) in which resources utilized in imageprocessing within the image processing apparatus are retained togetherwith information indicating features of the resources on a per-resourcebasis, print data or input data based upon print languages of aplurality of types is received, and image data is processed whileutilizing resources that are retained within the apparatus from aninitial state, or that are downloaded, in accordance with a resourceutilization command sent together with the print data or input data,wherein the data processing apparatus comprises first setting means forsetting, with respect to each resource within the image processingapparatus, two or more items of display-name information as informationindicating the features of these resources (for example, setting isachieved by having a CPU 1701 shown in FIG. 8 execute a control programsuch as a downloader stored on a hard disk 1705) and second settingmeans for setting, with respect to each resource within the imageprocessing apparatus, display-name information, which indicates namesused in display, as information indicating features of these resources,the display-name information being set for every print language receivedby the image processing apparatus (for example, setting is achieved byhaving the CPU 1701 shown in FIG. 8 execute a control program such as adownloader stored on a hard disk 1705).

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate thesame or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and,together with the description, serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the structure of a multifunctioncopier, which is one example of an image forming apparatus according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the structure of a printer, whichis one example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an environment in whichuse is made of a data processing apparatus according to the embodimentand an image forming apparatus to which processing is to be applied;

FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C illustrate the structure of resources according tothe embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the user interface of a downloader inthe embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the downloader according to this embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of resource list processing by a printer driveraccording to the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram useful in describing the structure of acomputer;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the structure of a memory map in a RAMat the time of downloader execution;

FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the structure of resourcedata retained on a hard disk of the multifunction copier shown in FIG. 1or in a storage device of the printer shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a control screendisplayed on a monitor shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of second data processingin a data processing apparatus according to the present invention; and

FIG. 13 is a diagram useful in describing a memory map of a storagemedium that stores various data processing programs capable of beingread out by the data processing apparatus of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[First Embodiment]

A downloader (download program) implemented by a computer will bedescribed as an embodiment of a data processing apparatus according to afirst embodiment of the present invention. The downloader managesresources and downloads the resources to an image forming apparatus.FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the hardware modules of a multifunctioncopier, which is one example of an image forming apparatus to whichresources are downloaded by the downloader of this embodiment.

<Structure of Image Forming Apparatus>

The image forming apparatus has a main unit 101, which is forimplementing the printing function of the apparatus. The main unit 101functions also as a printer connected to a computer. The main unit 101comprises a network board 102, a controller board 103, a modem 104, ascanner controller 105, a panel controller 107, a panel 108, a hard-disk(HD) controller 109, a hard disk (HD) 110 and an engine 111, which areelectrically interconnected.

This apparatus will function as a copier by connecting a scanner unit106 to the main unit 101. The network board 102 remotely connects thiscopier, via a network line such as a LAN, to an external device, such asa personal computer (PC), that functions as a data transmitting deviceand control device. An example of a higher layer protocol of the LAN isTCP/IP.

The controller board 103 has a processor, a memory and an I/O interface.The processor controls the overall copier by executing a prescribedprogram and also executes processing relating to resource management,described later.

The controller board 103 locally connects this copier and an externaldevice such as a personal computer via an interface such as an SCSI orUSB. Furthermore, the controller board 103 interprets data that has beenaccepted from the network board 102, the controller board 103 itself,the modem 104, the scanner controller 105 and the panel controller 107,forms an output image in cooperation with the hard-disk controller 109,and delivers the image to the engine 111.

The modem 104 remotely connects this copier and an external device suchas a personal computer via a telephone line. The panel controller 107provides a user interface as part of the function of the copier andcontrols the panel 108, which accepts commands from the user. Thehard-disk controller 109 controls the hard disk 110, which is a storagearea for data within the copier. The hard disk 110 is also a locationfor storing resources utilized by the copier. The engine 111 accepts animage formed by the controller board 103 and executes print processing.

The hard-disk controller 109 controls the hard disk 110, which is astorage area for data within the copier. The hard disk 110 is also alocation for storing resources relating to the present invention. Theengine 111 accepts an image formed by the controller board 103 andexecutes print processing.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the hardware modules of a printerserving as one more example of an image forming apparatus. As shown inFIG. 2, a network board 202 remotely connects this printer, via anetwork line, to an external device, such as a personal computer, thatfunctions as a data transmitting device and control device. A printercontroller 203 has a processor and memory. A processor controls theoverall printer by executing a prescribed program and executesprocessing relating to resource management, described later.

The printer controller 203 locally connects this copier and an externaldevice such as a personal computer via an interface such as an SCSI orUSB. Furthermore, the printer controller 203 interprets data that hasbeen accepted from the network board 202 and printer controller 203itself, forms an output image in cooperation with a storage device 204and delivers the image to an engine 201. The storage device 204 is astorage area for data within the printer and is a non-volatile memory orhard disk. Resources utilized by the printer are also stored in thestorage device 204. The engine 201 accepts the image formed by theprinter controller 203 and executes print processing.

<Description of Resources>

Resources utilized by the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2will be described next. The resources according to the present inventionare data stored on the hard disk 110 or in the storage device 204. Whenthe controller board 103 or printer controller 203 forms an outputimage, the data is referred to in order to execute image formationprocessing and color processing.

Examples of types of data are (1) fonts, which are character sets, (2)forms for printing an image superimposed on print data, (3) profilesthat express the color spaces of various devices, (4) look-up tables(LUTs), which are conversion tables for color correction, and (5) ditherpatterns, namely pattern data that decide expression of colors.

Data stored as a resource comprises data proper (actual data) andinformation (resource attributes) indicating features of the data,particularly name and data size. Resources can be downloaded from anexternal device such as a personal computer functioning as a datatransmitting device or control device connected to the image formingapparatus, and can be uploaded to an external device. Further, it ispossible for attributes to be set and viewed with regard to resourcesretained in an external device. In addition, there are also resourcesthat have been stored in the image forming apparatus in its initialstate (e.g., at the time of shipping). Resources downloaded to the imageforming apparatus are generated by software in a special-purposeapparatus or in a personal computer.

FIG. 3 is a diagram useful in describing an example of an environment inwhich use is made of resources and an image forming apparatus accordingto the present invention.

A typical environment in which the image forming apparatus is used is anetwork system relying upon a LAN connection with computers in an officeor the like. The network system depicted in FIG. 3 includes a server302, an administrator personal computer 303, client personal computers304, 305, printers 308, 309 having the structure shown in FIG. 2, andmultifunction copiers 306, 307 having the structure shown in FIG. 1. Thecomponents are connected via an Ethernet (registered trademark) 301.

The client personal computers 304, 305 in this environment transmitprint data to the printers 308, 309 and multifunction copiers 306, 307via printer drivers that operate in the client personal computers, andobtain a print output. Further, the client personal computers 304, 305read in images by the scanner units 106 of the multifunction copiers306, 307 via scanner drivers that operate in the client personalcomputers. It should be noted that the administrator personal computer303 also is capable of performing print-out and scanner read operationsas a client personal computer.

In a case where resources held by the server 302 and administratorpersonal computer 303, etc., are downloaded to the printers 308, 309 andmultifunction copiers 306, 307, downloading is performed by the downloadprogram running on the administrator personal computer 303. The downloadprogram downloads resources, which have been acquired from the server302 or another connected device, to the printers 308, 309 andmultifunction copiers 306, 307, while setting various information, via astorage medium or Ethernet (registered trademark) 303. Further, it ispossible for resources that have been uploaded from any of the printers308, 309 and multifunction copiers 306, 307 to be downloaded to anotherdevice.

FIGS. 4A to 4C illustrate the structure of one collection of resourcedata retained in the storage device 204 of the printers 308, 309 or onthe hard disk 110 in the multifunction copiers 306, 307.

In FIG. 4A, a resource name 401 is utilized as one means of identifyingresources in a simple manner. This name is also utilized in a case wherea resource list is indicated to the user. A resource type 402 indicatesthe type of resource. In this embodiment, a case where the downloaderhandles profile resources defining the color space of a device will bedescribed as an example, and therefore a resource to undergo processingwill be a profile and the resource type 402 will indicate a profile. Inaddition, fonts, forms, dither patterns and look-up tables may beindicated as the content of resource type 402.

A default flag 403 is a flag that indicates the resource used in a casewhere received data such as print data does not contain an indication asto which resource should be utilized. The default flag 403 has astructure shown in FIG. 4C. The image forming apparatus of thisembodiment is capable of accepting five types of print languages, namelyPDL1, PDL2, PDL3, PDL4 and PDL5, and of interpreting these languages andforming images. The default flag 403 has bits corresponding torespective ones of the five print languages. Each bit indicates, by itsvalue, whether the particular resource is to be a default resource inrelation to each print language. Here the particular resource is adefault resource in regard to a print language that corresponds to an ON(“1”) bit, and is not a default resource in regard to a print languagethat corresponds to an OFF (“0”) bit. In the example of FIG. 4C, thedefault flag 403 is such that bits are OFF (“0”) with regard to PDL1,PDL5, thereby indicating that this resource is not to be a defaultresource in relation to PDL1 (print language 1) and PDL5 (print language5). Further, the default flag 403 is such that bits are ON (“1”) withregard to PDL2, PDL3, PDL4, thereby indicating that this resource is tobe a default resource in relation to PDL2 (print language 2) PDL3 (printlanguage 3) and PDL4 (print language 4).

A utilization flag 404 indicates whether the resource is utilizable (tobe utilized) or not and has the structure shown in FIG. 4B. Theutilization flag 404 has bits corresponding to respective ones of thefive print languages. Each bit indicates, by its value, whether theresource is utilizable in relation to each print language. Here theparticular resource is utilizable in regard to a print language thatcorresponds to an ON bit, and is not utilizable in regard to a printlanguage that corresponds to an OFF bit. In the example of FIG. 4B, theutilization flag 404 is such that bits are OFF (“0”) with regard toPDL5, thereby indicating that this resource cannot be utilized inrelation to PDL5 (print language 5). Further, the utilization flag 404is such that bits are ON (“1”) with regard to PDL1, PDL2, PDL3, PDL4,thereby indicating that this resource can be used in relation to PDL1(print language 1), PDL2 (print language 2) PDL3 (print language 3) andPDL4 (print language 4).

Data-portion information 405 indicates the details of a data portion 406and contains data size, etc. The data portion 406 contains the dataproper, such as a font, form or profile, which is a resource. In thisembodiment, the data proper is profile data of an image formingapparatus.

In this embodiment, individual resources are managed through thestructure shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C and are uploaded or downloaded betweenthe administrator personal computer 303, printers 308, 309 andmultifunction copiers 306, 307. Furthermore, in this embodiment, aresource managed by the administrator personal computer 303 or server302 is composed of resource substance (the resource proper), namely thedata-portion information 405 and data portion 406; it does not containresource attributes, namely resource name 401, resource type 402,default flag 403 and utilization flag 404. Accordingly, what isdownloaded is the data-portion information 405 and data portion 406. Theresource attributes are added on at the particular apparatus, such asthe image forming apparatus. It should be noted, however, that this doesnot hamper the management of resource attributes at the administratorpersonal computer 303 or server 302, and the attributes can also bemanaged at the administrator personal computer 303 and server 302 in theform illustrated in FIGS. 4A to 4C.

The reason why the present invention is useful is because of thefollowing: Color multiple-PDL (Page Description Language) machines havebeen developed. These machines, such as multifunction copiers andprinters, support color as well as a variety of PDLs. A color profilecorresponding to each PDL is prepared for a color-supporting machinethat is such a multiple-PDL machine. A color profile is a conversiontable used to apply a suitable color correction by adjusting color inthe working environment (represented by a monitor, for example) in whichan image that is input from a scanner or digital camera is captured, andin a printing environment (represented by a laser printer, large-scaleprinting machine or multifunction machine, etc.) in which the image isprinted.

Accordingly, there are instances where a color profile, which is oneexample of a resource, is prepared for every language. For example, inthis embodiment, the set-up can be such that when a PDL referred to as“A” is used, a color profile A is loaded in accordance therewith, andwhen a PDL referred to as “B” is used, a color profile B is loaded inaccordance therewith. Thus, the appropriate color profile to be used atthe time of data processing can be set by the user in association witheach type of PDL.

If this arrangement is adopted, a profile that is optimum for each PDLcan be loaded automatically. For example, in a case where an user who isnot familiar with the color processing has set up the system so as touse a PDL language suited to printing in business-oriented applicationswhere clear color development is desired, a color profile suited tosharp color development and conforming to this PDL is loadedautomatically. Further, in a case where the user just selects and usesanother PDL suitable for professional use, a color profile that has beendetermined to be a standard in industries that employ this other PDLwould be loaded automatically.

Thus, as described above, a color profile can be conceived of as anexample of a resource, as in this embodiment, and a user, merely bypreviously setting color profiles corresponding to respective ones ofPDLs as resources, can print in the most suitable color simply byselecting the desired language without needing to concerning him/herselfwith the complicated settings to select color profiles suitable for aPDL which is desired by the user to use for a printing process when theprinting process runs.

<Computer Structure>

FIG. 8 is a block diagram useful in describing the structure of acomputer such as the administrator personal computer 303 or clientpersonal computers 304, 305.

A CPU 1701 is a central processing unit for controlling the overallapparatus. While utilizing A RAM 1703 as a work area, the CPU 1701executes various processing, inclusive particularly of resource downloadprocessing, in accordance with a program that has been stored in a ROM1702, hard disk 1705, a portable storage medium such as a CD set in adevice connected via an external-device controller 1706, or a deviceconnected via a network controller 1707. A system bus 1708 is a path bywhich various data and control signals are exchanged among theabove-described components. In addition to various programs, resourcedata, such as character pattern data (font data) and profile data,downloaded to the image forming apparatus, has been stored in the ROM1702 and hard disk 1705.

A hard-disk controller 1704 controls the operation of the hard-diskdrive that the computer utilizes as one storage device. If second andthird new hard-disk drives are added to computer, then the hard-diskcontroller 1704 will control the operation of each of these drives. Anexternal-device controller 1706 controls storage devices andinput/output devices such as a floppy disk (FD), CD, DVD, MO, CD-Rdrive, scanner and printer connected to the computer by SCSI, USB andparallel interfaces, etc. The network controller 1707 controls anexchange of data performed among various devices (e.g., various devicesconnected to Ethernet 301 in this embodiment) via the network. A monitor1709 is a display unit that presents a download control screen to beginwith and, in addition, displays information from various programs. Aninput device 1710 is a device such as a keyboard or mouse by which theoperator applies commands to the apparatus. Further, programs executedby the CPU 1701, beginning with a processing program according to thisembodiment, have been written in computer language.

<Downloader Operation>

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a memory map for when a processingprogram such as a downloader in accordance with the present inventionhas been loaded in the RAM 1703 at execution of the program. In the RAM1703, the memory map is composed of a basic I/O program 1801 forinput/output relative to the computer, a system program (operatingsystem) 1802 that provides each processing program with an operatingenvironment, various processing programs 1803 beginning with adownloader described later, a related area 1804 for storing related datainclusive of resource data, and a work area 1805 utilized temporarilywhen various programs are run. In a case where the storage capacities ofthe areas utilized as the areas 1801 to 1805 in the memory map becomeinadequate owing to a limitation upon the capacity of RAM 1703, aseparate storage medium such as the hard disk 1705 can be treated aspart of the area of RAM 1703.

The downloader program can be supplied to another computer via a storagemedium such as floppy disk, hard disk, magneto-optic disk or CD-ROM orvia a network, it is possible to achieve start-up from these storagemedia, and it is also possible to achieve start-up in the apparatus(i.e., a hard disk) after installation.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of processing of adownloader at the administrator personal computer 303 of thisembodiment. The downloader is adapted so as to be capable of downloadinga plurality of resources successively one at a time. The procedure shownin FIG. 6 is written starting from the moment the downloader is launchedvia the operating system in response to a command from a user, etc. Itshould be noted that the apparatus to which resources are downloaded andthe resources to be downloaded have been selected via a graphical userinterface (GUI) following launching of the downloader.

First, it is determined at step S601 whether all resources to bedownloaded have been processed or not. If it is determined that theprocessing of all resources to be downloaded has not been finished (“NO”at step S601), the processing of steps S602 to S604 below is executedwith regard to the next resource to be processed, then control returnsto step S601. If it is determined that the processing of all resourcesto be downloaded has been finished (“YES” at step S601), then processingis exited.

At step S602, a dialog screen 501 shown in FIG. 5 is displayed so thatthe setting of resource attributes by the user will be accepted. FIG. 5is one control screen that the resource downloader of this embodimentdisplays on the monitor 1709 and allows the attributes of downloadedresources to be set.

Resource name 516 displays the name of a resource to undergo processing.The downloader of this embodiment handles a profile resource as aresource to undergo processing, and at the present time a resource named“Color Profile ABC” is about to be downloaded. The name of this resourcemay be the name of a file in which the resource data is held in theadministrator personal computer 303. Further, the resource name can bespecified by the user and written, together with flags described later,into a resource-name section that has been downloaded to the imageforming apparatus.

A default-flag setting section 504 is a user interface for setting thedefault flag of the resource indicated at the resource name 516 and hascheck boxes 505, 506, 507, 508 and 509. The check boxes 505, 506, 507,508, 509 are analogous to the default flag bits corresponding to PDL1,PDL2, PDL3, PDL4, PDL5, respectively. If a check box is checked, thenthe corresponding default flag bit is set to “1” to specify theparticular PDL as a default. It should be noted, however, that thevalues specified by the check boxes are not reflected in resource datadirectly; they are reflected after the data portion 406, which is thesubstance of the resource, is downloaded by clicking a download button502.

A utilization-flag setting section 510 is a user interface for settingthe utilization flag of the resource indicated at the resource name 516and has check boxes 511, 512, 513, 514 and 515. The check boxes 511,512, 513, 514, 515 are analogous to the utilization flag bitscorresponding to PDL1, PDL2, PDL3, PDL4, PDL5, respectively. If a checkbox is checked, then the corresponding utilization flag bit is set to“1” to specify that the resource is utilizable. It should be noted,however, that the values specified by the check boxes are not reflectedin resource data directly; they are reflected after the data portion406, which is the substance of the resource, is downloaded by clickingthe download button 502.

The download button 502 is for executing downloading of the resourceindicated at the resource name 516. If the download button 502 has beenclicked, control proceeds to step S603 in FIG. 6, the resource isdownloaded and the values that have been set in the default flag andutilization-flag of the downloaded resource are reflected. A cancelbutton 503 cancels the settings made on the dialog screen 501 andrestores the previous screen.

If the download button 502 on the dialog screen 501 of FIG. 5 isclicked, the resource data designated for downloaded is downloaded atstep S603 to the separately designated image forming apparatus. As aresult, the data-portion information 405 and data portion 406 having thestructure shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C are generated. It should be noted thatin the state that prevails immediately after the download, meaningfulvalues have not been written into the attribute section that includesthe resource name 401, resource type 402, default flag 403 andutilization flag 404. At this point, only the area in memory has beenreserved.

Next, at step S604 in FIG. 6, the settings made on the dialog screen 501are set as resource attributes with respect to the resource that hasbeen downloaded. That is, the resource attributes are stored in theabove-mentioned image forming apparatus in association with the actualdata of the resource. At this time the name that has been set in theresource-name section 516 is stored in the resource name 401. Inrelation to the resource type 402, only a profile is handled in theexample of the downloader of this embodiment and therefore contentindicating that the resource is a profile is set. Naturally, if theresource is one other than a profile, then values conforming to the typeof this resource are set. For example, in a case where the operatingsystem of the administrator personal computer is Windows (registeredtrademark), the file extension is utilized as the type of resource andthe type of resource identified from this extension can be set as theresource type 402 at step S603.

The states of the check boxes 505 to 509 included in the default-flagsetting section 504 are reflected and set in the default flag 403. If acheck box has been checked, the corresponding bit of the default flag403 is turned ON (made “1”). If a check box has not been checked, thenthe corresponding bit of the default flag 403 is turned OFF (made “0”).

The states of the check boxes 511 to 515 included in the utilizable-flagsetting section 510 are reflected and set in the utilization flag 404.If a check box has been checked, the corresponding bit of theutilization flag 404 is turned ON (made “1”). If a check box has notbeen checked, then the corresponding bit of the utilization flag 404 isturned OFF (made “0”).

The description in connection with FIGS. 5 and 6 deals only with a casewhere a resource is downloaded anew. However, after an existing resourcehas been read out from the image forming apparatus 306 to 309, it ispossible to delete step S603 in FIG. 6 and perform only the attributesetting of step S604. In this case, the attribute values read out wouldbe reflected in the display of FIG. 5.

<Operation of Resource List Display>

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of processing executed by a printer driver, whichoperates in the administrator personal computer 303 or in the clientpersonal computers 304, 305, for displaying, on the user interface ofthe printer driver, a list of resources having the form of FIG. 4Awithin an image forming apparatus, the resources having been downloadedby the downloader through the procedure of FIG. 6. For the sake ofexplanation, it is assumed that this printer driver uses print languagePDL2. Accordingly, “OWN BIT” in FIG. 7 refers to the bit correspondingto PDL2. Furthermore, for the sake of simplicity, this description willbe rendered on the assumption that only the profile resource handled bythe downloader described in connection with FIGS. 5 and 6 exists withinthe image forming apparatus.

First, at step S701 in FIG. 7, attribute information of all profileresources present in the resource storage area within the image formingapparatus is acquired. Attributes, namely the resource name 401, defaultflag 403 and utilization flag 404 in FIG. 4A, are included as theacquired attribute information of the resource. Attention is directedtoward one of these resources.

Next, at step S702, it is determined whether all resources acquired atstep S701 have been processed or not. If it is determined that theprocessing of all resources has not been finished (“NO” at step S702),then the processing of steps S703 to S706 is executed and controlreturns to step S702.

The utilization flag 404 of the resource of interest is referred to andit is determined whether the bit for PDL2 is ON or OFF at step S703. Theprinter driver that executes the procedure of FIG. 7 knows beforehandthe position of the flag corresponding to the type of PDL utilized bythe printer driver. This can be achieved by retaining the position ofthe flag to which reference is to be made in a separate table or byretaining it as part of the program code.

If it is found at step S703 that the bit corresponding to PDL in theutilization flag is OFF (“0”), the resource of interest is skipped andcontrol returns to step S702. On the other hand, if it is found at stepS703 that the bit corresponding to PDL in the utilization flag is ON(“1”), then the name 401 of the resource of interest is added to theresource list on the user interface of the printer driver at step S704.At this stage, however, the resource is added to the data of theresource list but is not displayed.

Next, at step S705, reference is had to the default flag 403 and it isdetermined whether the bit corresponding to PDL2 is ON or OFF. If thebit corresponding to PDL2 of the default flag is OFF (“0”), displayprocessing regarding the resource of interest is terminated and controlreturns to step S702.

If it is found at step S705 that the bit corresponding to PDL2 of thedefault flag is ON (“1”), then the display field of the resource ofinterest added on at step S704 is moved to the top of the resource listat step S706 in order to display the resource of interest at the topresource list on the user interface of the printer driver. Control thenreturns to step S702. At this stage also the resource is added to thedata of the resource list and no display is presented. It should benoted that there are other ways to present an indication that makes itpossible to recognize that a default has been designated, as byattaching a special mark or the like to a resource for which the defaulthas been designated.

If it is determined that the processing of all resources has beenfinished (“YES” at step S702), then the list of resources created atsteps S704 and S706 is displayed on the user interface of the printerdriver at step S707.

Thus, in a computer that uses an image forming apparatus, thedevice-driver program for the image forming apparatus that has beeninstalled in this computer is capable of displaying a list of resourceson the display screen of the user interface. The list of resources isusable by the driver and, moreover, is actually retained in the imageforming apparatus. Furthermore, a default resource used in a case whereno particular designation has been made is displayed at the top of thelist, as a result of which resources that are used ordinarily can beascertained on the screen of the user interface.

Furthermore, a resource displayed through the procedure of FIG. 7 can beselected on the screen and the attributes regarding the-selectedresource can be changed through the procedure of FIG. 6. In such case,the downloader of step S603 will be unnecessary.

The description relating to FIG. 7 has been rendered in regard to thedriver for PDL2. However, a list of resources can be displayed even withregard to other PDL drivers (drivers for PDL1, PDL3, PDL4 and PDL5),which transmit data to the image forming apparatus of this embodiment,by the processing of FIG. 7 merely by changing the bit referred to atsteps S703 and S705.

Thus, as set forth above, a resource retained in a device is managedupon attaching corresponding attributes (the default flag andutilization flag) to the resource on a per-print-language basis (i.e.,for every page description language). As a result, an operator whorequests print processing by an image forming apparatus can readinformation of resources utilizable on a per-user basis out of thedevice that retains the information, display the information on acomputer screen, select an appropriate resource from the resources onthe screen and designate that this resource be utilized. The designationof a resource to be utilized is incorporated as an instruction in printdata generated by a printer driver, by way of example. Upon receivingthe print data, the image forming apparatus interprets the instructionthat designates this resource and utilizes the designated resource.

It should be noted that the selection of resources by the printer driverneed not necessarily rely upon the operator. That is, if, in a casewhere no particular resource has been specified, there are a pluralityof resources utilizable by the PDL supported by the printer driver, thenthe resources are searched for a resource for which the correspondingbit of the default flag has been set, and an instruction calling forutilization of the resource for which the default bit has been set isembedded in the print data. Thus, one resource retained in a device canbe handled by the user of the resource as a resource provided withattributes conforming to the user.

As described above, a resource need not be retained redundantly in animage forming apparatus that supports a plurality of print languages,and a resource that is capable of expressing separate resource featureswith respect to each print language can be downloaded.

[Second Embodiment]

It is possible for the programs that execute the processing of FIGS. 6and 7 described in the first embodiment to be recorded on a storagemedium such as a floppy disk or CD-ROM. It is also possible to load thisstorage medium in a data transmitting device such as a personal computerthat is capable of reading in the program from the storage medium,transmit the program to the image forming apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and2 of the first embodiment connected via various interfaces, and make theprogram a processing program executed in the controller board 103 orprinter controller 203.

[Third Embodiment]

Described next as a third embodiment is a downloader for implementing aresource management method through which names that differ from eachother for every print language can be assigned in regard to a singleresource.

FIG. 10A is a diagram illustrating the structure of resource dataretained on the hard disk 110 of the multifunction copiers 306, 307shown in FIG. 1 or in the storage device 204 in the printers 308, 309shown in FIG. 2.

Portions in FIG. 10A similar to those in FIG. 4A need not be describedagain.

Resource names 1001, 1002, 1003 are utilized as one means foridentifying the resource simply. Further, any name is utilized even in acase where it becomes necessary to present a resource list to the user.In this embodiment, three names are retained for every resource.

Name-used information 1004 is information which, in a case where aresource is indicated to a user, indicates under which of the resourcenames 1001, 1002, 1003 the resource is to be displayed, or whether nodisplay of a resource is to be presented.

The named-used information 1004 has a data structure of the kind shownin FIG. 10B. The image forming apparatus of this embodiment is capableof accepting five types of print languages, namely PDL1, PDL2, PDL3,PDL4 and PDL5, and of interpreting these languages and executing imageprocessing. Accordingly, the named-used information 1004 has defaults(two bits each in this embodiment) for respective ones of the five typesof print languages PDL1, PDL2, PDL3, PDL4 and PDL5, thereby indicatingwhether the name should or should not be displayed in relation to eachprint language.

In the structure of the named-used information 1004, the fieldcorresponding to the print language PDL1 has a value of “3”, indicatingthat the resource name 1003, which is “NAME3”, is used in presenting adisplay in regard to PDL1.

Further, fields corresponding to print languages PDL2, PDL3 both have avalue of “1”, indicating that the resource name 1001, which is “NAME1”,is used in presenting a display in regard to PDL2, PDL3. Further, thefield corresponding to the print language PDL4 has a value of “0”,indicating that this resource is not to be displayed.

Further, the field corresponding to the print language PDL5 has a valueof “2”, indicating that the resource name 1002, which is “NAME2”, isused in presenting a display in regard to PDL1.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a control screendisplayed on the monitor 1709 shown in FIG. 8. This is one controlscreen that the resource downloader of this embodiment displays on themonitor 1709 and corresponds to a dialog screen 1101 for settingattributes of a resource to be downloaded.

On the dialog screen 1101, a NAME1 area 1104 is an input area for thefirst name “NAME1”. This area is for entering a value stored in resourcename 1001, which will become “NAME1”. A NAME2 area 1105 is an input areafor the second name “NAME2”. This area is for entering a value stored inresource name 1002, which will become “NAME2”.

A NAME3 area 1106 is an input area for third second name “NAME3”. Thisarea is for entering a value stored in resource name 1003, which willbecome “NAME3”. An area 1113 for setting display-name information is auser interface for setting information concerning the display name andhas pull-down menus 1108, 1109, 1110, 1111, 1112. It is possible toselect “0”, “1”, “2” or “3” in each of the pull-down menus 1108, 1109,1110, 1111, 1112.

A download button 1102 is clicked when downloading is to be performed.With regard to processing in a case where the download button 1102 hasbeen clicked, the description rendered in regard to the flowchart ofFIG. 6 according to the first embodiment basically holds. However, sinceresource attributes are different from those of the first embodiment,the flowchart will be described again below.

A cancel button 1103 is clicked to cancel the settings made on thedialog screen 1101 and restore the previous screen.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of data processingexecuted by a data processing apparatus according to the presentinvention. This flowchart corresponds to the data processing procedureof the downloader according to this embodiment. In this embodiment (alsoin the first embodiment), the downloader is adapted so as to be capableof downloading a plurality of resources successively one at a time.

First, it is determined at step S601 whether all resources to bedownloaded have been processed or not. If it is determined that theprocessing of all resources to be downloaded has not been finished (“NO”at step S601), the processing of steps S602 to S604 below is executedwith regard to the next resource to be processed and control eventuallyreturns to step S601. In FIG. 6, the flowchart is drawn to show a returnfrom step S604 to step S602.

If it is determined that the processing of all resources to bedownloaded has been finished (“YES” at step S601), then processing isexited.

As a result, the dialog screen 1101 shown in FIG. 11 is displayed atstep S602 and the settings of resource attributes by the user areaccepted. It should be noted that this processing is described only inregard to a case where the download button 1102 is clicked after thedialog screen 1101 is displayed.

If the download button 1102 is clicked, first the resource data isdownloaded to the image processing apparatus (inclusive of the printer308 and multifunction copiers 306, 307 in FIG. 2) at step S603. As aresult, the data-portion information 405 and data portion 406 having thestructure shown in FIGS. 10A are generated.

Next, at step S604, the settings made on the dialog screen 1101 are setas resource attributes with respect to the resource that has beendownloaded. At this time, “NAME1” 1104 is stored in resource name 1001,which becomes “NAME1”, “NAME2” 1104 is stored in resource name 1002,which becomes “NAME2”, and “NAME3” 1105 is stored in resource name 1003,which becomes “NAME3”.

In relation to the resource type 402, only a profile is handled in theexample of the downloader of this embodiment and therefore contentindicating that the resource is a profile is set.

The values in the pull-down menus 1108 to 1112 included in the area 1113for setting display name information are reflected and set in thenamed-used information 1004.

The value specified in the pull-down menu 1108 for print language PDL1is set in the field for PDL1 in the named-used information 1004, and thevalue specified in the pull-down menu 1109 for print language PDL2 isset in the field for PDL2 in the named-used information 1004.

Further, the value specified in the pull-down menu 1110 for printlanguage PDL3 is set in the field for PDL3 in the named-used information1004, the value specified in the pull-down menu 1111 for print languagePDL4 is set in the field for PDL4 in the named-used information 1004,and the value specified in the pull-down menu 1112 for print languagePDL5 is set in the field for PDL5 in the named-used information 1004.

This description has been rendered only in regard to a case where aresource is downloaded anew. However, after an existing resource hasbeen read out from the image processing apparatus, it is possible todelete step S603 in FIG. 6 and perform only the attribute setting ofstep S604. In this case, the attribute values read out would bereflected in the display of FIG. 5.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of second data processingin a data processing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG.12 corresponds to a data processing procedure for displaying resourceswithin an image processing apparatus on a user interface. This isperformed by a printer driver, which operates in the administratorpersonal computer 303 or in the client personal computers 304, 305 andis one example of a program for listing resources having the data formatshown in FIGS. 10A, 10B within the image processing apparatus, theresources having been downloaded by the downloader described above inconnection with FIGS. 11 and 6. Steps S1201 to S1207 are the steps ofthis flowchart. Further, for the sake of explanation, it is assumed thatthis printer driver uses print language PDL2. In addition, since adescription relating to the discrimination of resource types notdirectly related to the present invention is omitted, it will be assumedthat only the profile resources handled by the downloader described inconnection with FIGS. 11 and 6 exist within the image processingapparatus.

First, at step S1201, all profile resources that exist within theresource storage area in the image processing apparatus are listed. Atthis time, the attributes shown in FIGS. 10A, 10B, namely the resourcename 1001 that becomes “NAME1”, the resource name 1002 that becomes“NAME2”, the resource name 1003 that becomes “NAME3” and the named-usedinformation 1004, are also acquired in relation to each of the listedresources.

This is followed by step S1202, at which it is determined whether allresources listed at step S1201 have been processed. If it is determinedthat the processing of all resources has not been finished (“NO” at stepS1202), then the processing of steps S1203 to S1206 is executed andcontrol returns to step S1202.

At step S1203, reference is made to the named-used information 1004 ofthe resource to undergo processing to discriminate the value in thefield for print language PDL2. If it is determined that the value is“1”, then, at step S1204, the resource name 1001 that becomes “NAME1” isadded to the list for displaying the resource in a list on the userinterface of the printer driver.

If it is determined at step S1203 that the value is “2”, then, at stepS1205, the resource name 1002 that becomes “NAME2” is added to the listfor displaying the resource in a list on the user interface of theprinter driver.

If it is determined at step S1203 that the value is “3”, then, at stepS1206, the resource name 1003 that becomes “NAME3” is added to the listfor displaying the resource in a list on the user interface of theprinter driver.

If it is determined at step S1203 that the value is “0”, then nothing isadded to the list for displaying the resource in a list on the userinterface of the printer driver.

On the other hand, if it is found at step S1202 that the processing ofall resources has been finished, then the resource list is displayed onthe user interface of the driver based upon the list for display in theresource list, which has been created at steps S1204, S1205 and S1206,on the user interface of the driver. Processing is then exited.

The description relating to FIG. 12 has been rendered in regard to theprinter driver for print language PDL2. However, a list of resources canbe displayed even with regard to other PDL drivers (drivers for PDL1,PDL3, PDL4 and PDL5), which transmit data to the image processingapparatus of this embodiment, by the processing of FIG. 12 merely bychanging the field referred to at steps S1203 and S1205.

As described above, a resource need not be retained redundantly in animage processing apparatus that supports a plurality of print languages,and a resource that is capable of expressing separate resource nameswith respect to each print language can be downloaded.

[Fourth Embodiment]

It is possible for the programs that execute the processing of FIGS. 6,7 and 13 described in the first to third embodiments to be recorded on astorage medium such as a floppy disk or CD-ROM. It is also possible toload this storage medium in a data transmitting device such as apersonal computer that is capable of reading in the program from thestorage medium, transmit the program to the image processing apparatusshown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the first to third embodiments connected viavarious interfaces, and make the program a processing program executedin the controller board 103 or printer controller 203.

The structure of a data processing program capable of being read out bythe data processing apparatus of the present invention will be describedwith reference to the memory map shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 13 is a diagram useful in describing a memory map of a storagemedium that stores various data processing programs capable of beingread out by the data processing apparatus of the present invention.

Though not particularly illustrated, there are also cases whereinformation, such as version number and creator name, etc., for managinga group of programs stored on the storage medium, is stored on storagemedium, as well as information, such as an icon for identifying aprogram, that is dependent upon the operating system on the programread-out side.

Furthermore, data belonging to various programs is managed in adirectory. In addition, in a case where a program for installing variousprograms in a computer or an installed program has been compressed, adecompression program or the like may also be stored on the storagemedium.

The functions illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7 and 12 in this embodiment may beexecuted by a host computer using an externally installed program. Insuch case the present invention is applicable even in instances where agroup of information containing a program is supplied to an outputdevice by a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, flash memory or floppy diskor from an external storage medium via a network.

Thus, the object of the invention is attained also by supplying astorage medium storing the program codes of the software for performingthe functions of the foregoing embodiments to a system or an apparatus,reading the program codes with a computer (e.g., a CPU or MPU) of thesystem or apparatus from the storage medium, and then executing theprogram codes.

In this case, the program codes read from the storage medium implementthe novel functions of the embodiment and the storage medium storing theprogram codes constitutes the invention.

Examples of storage media that can be used for supplying the programcode are a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk,CD-ROM, CDR, magnetic tape, non-volatile type memory card, ROM orEEPROM, etc.

Further, besides the case where the aforesaid functions according to theembodiments are implemented by executing the program codes read by acomputer, it goes without saying that the present invention covers acase where an operating system or the like running on the computerperforms a part of or the entire process in accordance with thedesignation of program codes and implements the functions according tothe embodiments.

It goes without saying that the present invention further covers a casewhere, after the program codes read from the storage medium are writtenin a function expansion board inserted into the computer or in a memoryprovided in a function expansion unit connected to the computer, a CPUor the like contained in the function expansion board or functionexpansion unit performs a part of or the entire process in accordancewith the designation of program codes and implements the function of theabove embodiments.

The present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiments andvarious modifications (inclusive of combinations of the embodiments) canbe made based upon the gist of the invention without departing from thescope of the claims thereof.

Thus, in accordance with the present invention, as described above, aresource need not be retained redundantly in an image forming apparatusthat supports a plurality of print languages, and it is possible to makea resource express separate resource features with respect to each printlanguage.

Furthermore, a resource need not be retained redundantly in an imageforming apparatus that supports a plurality of print languages, and aresource that is capable of expressing separate resource features withrespect to each print language can be downloaded.

Furthermore, even if a default resource for which there are a pluralityof different print languages is defined, this can be dealt with withoutretaining the resource in the image forming apparatus redundantly.

Furthermore, even if resources utilizable by a plurality of printlanguages differ, this can be dealt with without retaining the resourcein the image forming apparatus redundantly.

Furthermore, the above-mentioned effects are obtained in relation tofont resources, form resources, color-profile resources, look-up tableresources and dither-pattern resources.

Furthermore, in accordance with the present invention, only one resourceof the same data is allowed to exist in an area within an imageprocessing apparatus, and a plurality of names and informationindicating names used in a display on a per-print-language basis are setseparately in the image processing apparatus as attributes of eachresource. As a result, resources can be retained at one location and adedicated resource-retention area need not be provided for each printlanguage. In addition, it is no longer necessary to retain, underseparate names, identical resources indicating features that differ forevery print language. This makes it possible to conserve memoryresources.

A further advantage is that the administrator of the image processingapparatus is capable of freely constructing an environment in whichresources are managed freely.

As many apparently widely different embodiments of the present inventioncan be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificembodiments thereof except as defined in the appended claims.

1. A data processing apparatus, which communicates with a printercapable of interpreting a plurality of printing languages, thatprocesses image data by using a resource retained in memory, theresource being used for the plurality of printing languages, the dataprocessing apparatus comprising: retention means for retaining theresource containing data of the resource, which is utilized in imageprocessing on the printer, wherein the resource is for said plurality ofprinting languages; input means for inputting, via a graphical userinterface, a plurality of display names of the resource retained by saidretaining means; selecting means for selecting, via the graphical userinterface, a choice from displaying any one of the plurality of displaynames input by said input means or not displaying any display name, foreach of the plurality of printing languages which are allowed to use theresources; setting means for setting, to the resource retained by saidretention means, the plurality of display names input by said inputmeans and name-use information indicative of correspondence between saidplurality of printing languages and display names selected by theselecting means for each of said plurality of printing languages; andtransmitting means for transmitting the resource to the printer inresponse to a transmission instruction input via the graphical userinterface, wherein the plurality of display names and the name-useinformation are set to the transmitted resource, and wherein the printerprocesses image data by using the transmitted resource; obtaining meansfor obtaining the resources from the printer; and display means forreferring to the name-use information set to the obtained resources todisplay a list of the obtained resources by using the display namecorresponding to a printing language to be used, wherein when theplurality of resources obtained by said obtaining means includes aresource which is used by the printing language to be used for which achoice is made by said selection means that any display name is notdisplayed, the display means displays a list not including the resource.2. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theresource is a font resource used in printing, a form resource forforming an image by being superimposed on print data at the time ofprinting, a color-profile resource that expresses color space of aninput/output device, a look-up-table resource, which is a conversiontable for color correction in color processing, or a dither-patternresource, which is pattern data for deciding expression of color incolor processing.
 3. A data processing apparatus, which communicateswith a printer apparatus capable of interpreting a plurality of printinglanguages, that processes image data by using a resource retained inmemory, the resource being used for the plurality of printing languages,the data processing apparatus comprising: a retention unit constructedto retain the resource containing data of the resource which is utilizedin image processing on the printer, wherein the resource is for saidplurality of printing languages; an input unit constructed to input, viaa graphical user interface, a plurality of display names of the resourceretained by said retention unit; a selecting unit constructed to select,via the graphical user interface, a choice from displaying any one ofthe plurality of display names input by the input unit or not displayingany display name, for each of the plurality of printing languages whichare allowed to use the resources; a setting unit constructed to set, tothe resource retained by said retention unit, the plurality of displaynames input by said input unit and name-use information indicative ofcorrespondence between said plurality of printing languages and displaynames selected by said selecting unit for each of said plurality ofprinting languages; a transmitting unit constructed to transmit theresource to the printer in response to a transmission instruction inputvia the graphical user interface, wherein the plurality of display namesand the name-use information are set to the transmitted resource, andthe printer processes image data by using the transmitted resource; anobtaining unit constructed to obtain the resources from the printer; anda display unit constructed to refer to the name-use information set tothe obtained resources to display a list of the obtained resources byusing the display name corresponding to a printing language to be used,wherein when the plurality of resources obtained by the obtaining unitincludes a resource which is used by the printing language to be usedfor which a choice is made by the selection unit that any display nameis not displayed, the display unit displays a list not includinginformation regarding the resource.
 4. A data processing method that isperformed by a data processing apparatus communicating with a printercapable of interpreting a plurality of printing languages, thatprocesses image data by using a resource retained in memory, theresource being used for the plurality of printing languages, said methodcomprising: retaining the resource containing data of the resource,which is utilized in image processing on the printer, wherein theresource is for said plurality of printing languages; inputting, via agraphical user interface of the data processing apparatus, a pluralityof display names of the resource retained in the retaining step;selecting, via the graphical user interface of the data processingapparatus, a choice from displaying any one of the plurality of displaynames input in the inputting step or not displaying any display name,for each of the plurality of printing languages which are allowed to usethe resources; setting, to the resource retained in the retaining step,the plurality of display names input in the inputting step and name-useinformation indicative of correspondence between said plurality ofprinting languages and display names selected in the selecting step foreach of said plurality of printing languages; and transmitting by thedata processing apparatus the resource to the printer in response to atransmission instruction input via the graphical user interface, whereinthe plurality of display names and the name-use information are set tothe transmitted resource, and the printer processes image data by usingthe transmitted resource; obtaining the resources from the printer; andreferring to the name-use information set to the obtained resources todisplay a list of the obtained resources by using the display namecorresponding to a printing language to be used, wherein when theplurality of resources obtained in the obtaining step includes aresource which is used by the printing language to be used for which achoice is made in the selecting step that any display name is notdisplayed, a list not including any information regarding the resourceis displayed in the displaying step.
 5. The method according to claim 4,wherein the resource is selected from the group including a fontresource used in printing, a form resource for forming an image by beingsuperimposed on print data at the time of printing, a color-profileresource that expresses color space of an input/output device, alook-up-table resource, which is a conversion table for color correctionin color processing, and/or a dither-pattern resource, which is patterndata for deciding expression of color in color processing.
 6. Anon-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computerprogram for communication of a data processing apparatus with a printercapable of interpreting a plurality of printing languages, thatprocesses image data by using a resource retained in memory, theresource being used by the plurality of printing languages, saidcomputer program comprising: code for retaining the resource containingdata of the resource, which is utilized in image processing on theprinter, wherein the resource is for said plurality of printinglanguages; code for inputting, via a graphical user interface of thedata processing apparatus, a plurality of display names for the resourceretained in the retaining step; code for selecting, via the graphicaluser interface of the data processing apparatus, a choice fromdisplaying any one of the plurality of display names input in theinputting step or not displaying any display name, for each of theplurality of printing languages which are allowed to use the resources;code for setting, to the resource retained in the retaining step, theplurality of display names input by said input code and name-useinformation indicative of correspondence between said plurality ofprinting languages and display name selected in the selecting step foreach of said plurality of printing languages; and code for transmittingthe resource to the printer in response to a transmission instructioninput via the graphical user interface, wherein the plurality of displaynames and the name-use information are set to the transmitted resource,and the printer processes image data by using the transmitted resource;code for obtaining the resources from the printer; and code forreferring to the name-use information set to the obtained resources todisplay a list of the obtained resources by using the display namecorresponding to a printing language to be used, wherein when theplurality of resources obtained in the obtaining step includes aresource which is used by the printing language to be used for which achoice is made in the selecting step that any display name is notdisplayed, a list not including any information regarding the resourceis displayed in the displaying step.
 7. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium storing a computer program according to claim6, wherein the resource is selected from the group including a fontresource used in printing, a form resource for forming an image by beingsuperimposed on print data at the time of printing, a color-profileresource that expresses color space of an input/output device, alook-up-table resource, which is a conversion table for color correctionin color processing, and/or a dither-pattern resource, which is patterndata for deciding expression of color in color processing.